Shuttle-motion for looms.



No. 766,776. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. M. 0-. STBERE & S. W. WARDWE'LL.

SHUTTLE MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1902.

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A TTOHNEY No. 766,776. PATENTBD AUG. 2, 1904. M. 0. STEERB & S. W. WAR-DWBLL.

SHUTTLE MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11. 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

INI ENTUHS WITNESSIS AT TUHNE Y No. 766,776. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. M. 0. STEE'RE & S. W. WARDWELL. SHUTTLE MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11. 1902.

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ATTORNEY No. 766,776. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. M. 0. STBERE & S. W. WARDWELL.

SHUTTLE MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

F INVENTOHSI 22 @JQW UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

MERRILL O. STEERE, OF PAWTUOKET, AND SIMON IV. WARDIVELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SHUTTLE-MOTION FOR LOOIVIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,776, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed August 11, 1902. Serial No. 119,210. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MERRILL O. STEERE, residing at Pawtucket, and SIMON \V. \VARD- WELL, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, citi- Zens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shuttle- Motions for Looms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to shuttle-actuating devices, and particularly to those adapted for narrow-ware looms in which the shuttles are positively shifted and positively controlled throughout their travel.

The object of our device is to provide a simple compact device for actuating the shuttles operated by the same devices which operate the lay or batten without the introduction of cams, cranks, or other special actuators; to provide means whereby the length of shuttle-stroke may be regulated with facility, and especially to provide a structure so constituted that the shuttles on both sides of a double loom may be actuated from a single device.

The following is a complete description of the invention, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the device in detail; Fig. 9., a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a view looking toward the end of the loom, showing the method of connecting the device with the shuttle rack-bars with a part section, taken on the line A A, Fig. l, but showing the rack a: in a position the reverse of that indicated in said figure; Fig. 4, a view looking toward the front of the loom in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a

rack-bars, are rotated in alternately opposite directions by the direct action of one of the lay-operating cranks. In general it is embodied in a shaft mounted transversely of the loom lay or lays and operatively connected with their rack-bars and also with a gear with which are meshed two opposite racks and a slide reciprocated from one of the layoperating cranks and adapted to alternately engage each of said racks to shift it at each reciprocation.

Specifically the preferred embodiment of our invention is as follows: A vertical frame (1' is either made integral with or suitably fastened to the loom-frame above and in line with one of the cranks. In the frame a is provided a dovetail slot or guideway for the carriage or slide 1), to which latter is imparted a vertical reciprocation by the lay-operating crank 0 through suitable connections. As shown in Fig. 3, these connections consist of twolinks (Z (Z, joined to said slide by the stud (2, which has a bearing therein, and similarly joined at their opposite ends to a strap f, which encircling the crank-pin secures the latter to the pitman y. Sliding in grooves at either side of the guideway in which the slide 7/ rcci n'ocates are vertical racks la and '1', meshing with a gear j, fastened to the horizontal shaft K. At the opposite end of the said shaft is a removable gear which meshes with the gear m on the shaft 11. The racks are held in their grooves by plates 0 and p, screwed to the frame a. Pivoted on the slide 6 is a pawl 11, adapted to alternately engage the racks h and i on the downward movement of the slide. The pawl Q is formed with two downward-extending portions 1' and .s', adapted to be thrown into engagement with catches t and '11, provided at the edges of the racks IL and 1', and a projection 1:, extending upward to engage the friction element or plunger w in the bearing a. The plunger is mounted in a vertical bore in the bearing a; of the slide 7), together with a spring y,whereby it is pressed downward. One end of the spring engages the head of the plunger, which fits the bore of the bearing :1, and the opposite end is held by a screw 2 in the end of said bore. The shank of the plunger extends through the said screw, thereby insuring a longer bearing for the plunger and freedom of movement without cramping.

The friction between the plunger w and the pawl projection 71, due to the pressure of the spring 1 suffices to retain the pawl in whatever position to which it may be shifted. To shift the pawl, two projections 2 and 3, preferably' hardened pins driven into the inner edges of the racks it and '21, are provided. The projecting ends of the pins are formed with beveled faces which act on the projections r and s. l

The shaft 72 extends above the lays, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, supported in suitable bearings 4 4., the preferred form shown being adjustable in their supports to provide against binding the said shaft. Fastened to the shaft directly over each lay and extending the length of the throw of the latter is a gear or pinion 5. The pinions mesh with the rack-bars 6 6 and drive the latter, thereby actuating the shuttles 7 7, &c., in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 4.

By means of the change-gears Z and m the extent of movement of the shuttles may be varied, forthe shaft 72 can be caused to rotate a greater or less extent by appropriately varying the ratio of their diameters.

To effect change of gears, it is necessary to remove the gear m from the shaft 12 by sliding the latter through its bearing until one end is free. The gear on may be then replaced by one of different diameter and a suitable engaging gear applied to the shaft by removingthe-nut on the latter.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows: The slide 6, actuated by the crank 0 through the links (Z (Z, is reciprocated vertically in the frame a, engaging in each of its downward movements and alternately one of the racks it and 2' through the pawl q. Thereby is the alternately-reversed rotation imparted tothe shaft 72-, for when the rack it descends the rotation of the shaft 70 is lefthanded, as viewed in Fig. 1, while with the descent of the rack 71 a right-hand rotation is imparted. The pawl q is caused to alternately engage the two racks in the following manner: The pins 2 and 3 and the catches t and u are so related that after one rack has been moved downward and the slide 5 has again returned to its uppermost position the pawl Q engages the pin on the rack that has just descended and is thereby shifted to engage the other rack. l/Vhile one rack is moved downward by the descending slide 5, the other rack is simultaneously caused to rise because of. its engagement with the gear j on the side opposite the first rack. For example, in Fig. 1 the slide 1) has justshifted the rack 2' down ward and returned to its uppermost position. The pawl g has engaged the pin 3 of the rack and has been forced thereby into position reciprocation to the shuttles.

the pinion j, and through the pinions Z and m rotates the shaft a, shifting the shuttles in one direction. Meanwhile the rackz'has been shifted to its uppermost position by the pin ion j, and as the slide 5 ascends the pawl q engages the pin 2 on the rack it, which is in its lowermost position, and shifts the pawl into position to engage the rack z. The next movement of the slide 6 downward carries the rack 71 down, and the shaft is is rotated in the direction opposite to that of its previous rotation. The crank 0 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, and the movement of the shuttles is started during the latter half of the backward travel of the lay. It will be seen that the character and relation of the crank movement gives amost effective The shuttles are started from rest slowly with a graduallyincreasing speed, attaining its maximum rate at mid-travel of the shuttles. At this point the crank is passing one extremity of its horizontal travel, so that the shuttles pass through their respective sheds while the lay remains almost stationary. The continuation of the downward movement of the crank finishes the travel of the shuttles with a retarded motion.

In Fig. 5 we have shown the device adapted for a loom with but one lay and also without provisions for changing the length of travel of the shuttles. The pinion j, with which the racks 7L and i mesh, is fastened directly on the shuttle driving-shaft n without the interposition of change-pinions.

Further modifications of the structure described herein might be made to adapt it for looms of different character, and changes might be made in the form and relation of the parts, all of which would liewithin the scope of this invention.

Therefore without limiting ourselves to the precise form and arrangement of parts disclosed, we claim- 1. In a shuttle-motion for a double loom, the combination with two opposed lays, diametrically-opposed cranks to operate the lays, shuttles mounted on eachlay, and rack-bars to operate the shuttles, of a shaft mounted transversely of the lays, gears mounted on said shaft and engaging the rack-bars at all periods of the lays travel, and devices whereby the said shaft is rotated by one of the layoperating cranks in alternately opposite directions. 6

2. In a shuttle-motion for a double loom, the

combination with two opposed lays, cranks to operate the lays, shuttles mounted on each lay, and rack-bars to reciprocate the shuttles, of a shaft mounted transversely of the lays, gears mounted on the shaft to turn therewith and engaging the rack-bars, a reciprocating slide actuated by one of the lay-operating cranks and devices connecting the said transverse shaft and the slide whereby, at each re- .ciprocation of the slide, the shaft is rotated,

and alternately in opposite directions.

3. In a shuttle-motion for a loom, the combination with a lay, cranks to operate the lay, shuttles and rack-bar therefor, of a shaft mounted transversely of the lay, a gear mounted on and turning with the shaft, and engaging the rack-bar, a reciprocating slide, connections between the slide and the said shaft including change-gears, and devices operated by one of the lay-cranks for reciprocating the slide.

4:. In a shuttle-motion for looms, the combination with the shuttles and rack-bar for actuating the latter, of a rotary shaft connected to shift the rack-bar, and devices for rotating the shaft at variable speeds, comprising a gear on the shaft, a change-pinion fast on a rotatable stud, and means for rotating the said stud in alternately opposite directions to drive the shaft.

5. In a shuttle-motion for looms, the combination with the shuttles and rack-bar for actuating the same, a rotary shaft connected to reciprocate the rack-bar, a gear on the shaft, a change-pinion meshing with the gear and fast on a rotatable stud, a second pinion on the stud, reciprocating racks meshing with opposite sides of the second pinion and means for reciprocating the racks to rotate the shaft in alternately opposite directions substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination in a double loom with cranks for operating the lays, shuttles mounted on the lays, rack-bars for driving the shuttles, a shaft extending transversely of the lays. means for reciprocating the rack-bars from said shaft, vertically-reciprocating members engaging the shaft to rotate it in opposite directions and means for reciprocating the members from one of the said lay-operating cranks.

7. The combination in a shuttle-motion for driving the shuttles of two opposed lays, of a shaft extending transversely of the lays and to their extremes of travel, gears on said shaft, rack-bars on the lays driven from the gears, and shuttles reciprocated by the rack-bars, a third gear on the shaft, reciprocating members for rotating said gear, a reciprocating slide and means on the slide for alternately engaging the members aforesaid during each stroke of the slide in one direction.

8. The combination in a shuttle-actuating device for a loom with two lays, shuttles mounted on the lays, and rack-bars for reciprocating the shuttles, of a shaft extending transversely of the lays and engaging the racks, and means operated from the lay-driving mechanism to rotate the shaft in alternately opposite directions.

9. The combination in a loom having two lays, diametrically-opposed cranks connected to drive the lays, shuttles mounted to reciprocate on the lays, a rotary shaft connected to actuate the shuttles, and means operated from one of the cranks to rotate the shaft alternately in opposite directions.

10. In a shuttle-operating device the combination with the lay, cranks for reciprocating the lay, shuttles and rack-bar, of connections between one of the cranks and the rack-bar whereby the shuttles are reciprocated in alternately'opposite directions.

11. The combination with the lay-operating cranks of a loom, of a shuttle-actuating device comprising a shuttle rack-bar and a rotary shaft connected to reciprocate the rack-bar, and connections between one of the cranks and said shaft to rotate the latter in alternately opposite directions.

12. The combination in a shuttle-motion for looms, of shuttles, rack-bar, lay, and crank to reciprocate the lay, a shaft to reciprocate the rack-bar, sliding members to rotate the shaft and means to slide the members by the movement of the crank.

13. In a shuttle-motion, the combination with the shuttles, rack-bar, lay, means for reciprocating the lay, of a rotary shaft, connections between the shaft and the rack-bar to reciprocate the latter, vertically-reciprocating members acting to rotate the shaft in opposite directions and means for reciprocating said members by the movement of the lay-reciproeating device.

14. In a shuttle-motion, the combination with the lay, operating-cranks therefor, shuttles mounted on the lay and rack-bar for driving the shuttles, of a shaft, a gear on said shaft engaging the rack-bar to reciprocate the latter, a second gear on the shaft, two sliding members actuating the second gear, and means for alternately engaging the sliding members with one of the cranks to rotate the shaft in alternately opposite directions.

15. In a shuttle'actuating device, the combination with the lay, cranks therefor, shuttles and rack-bar, of a shaft, a pinion on the shaft meshing with the rack-bar, a second pinion, sliding racks engaging opposite sides of the second pinion, and means to alternately engage the racks with the crank to rotate the shaft in opposite directions.

16. A shuttle-motion, the combination with the lay, lay-operating cranks, shuttles and shuttle rack-bar, of a shaft operatively engaging the rack-bar, a pinion on said shaft, sliding racks actuating said pinion, a reciprocating slide, connections between the slide and one of the cranks, and means for engaging the slide with the racks alternately during its movement in one direction.

17. In a shuttle-motion, the combination with the lay, operating-cranks therefor, shuttles, and rack-bar, of a shaft engaging the rack-bar, sliding members to rotate the shaft,

a slide reciprocated from one of the cranks and means on the slide for engaging each of the sliding members in alternate strokes.

18. In a shuttle-actuating device, the combination with the lay, cranks therefor, shuttles, and shuttle rack-bar, a shaft for reciprocating the rack-bar, a pinion on the shaft, Vertically-reciprocating racks actuating the pinion, a slide, a connection for reciprocating the slide from one of the cranks, a pawl on the slide and means for engaging the pawl with one of the racks during the stroke of the slide in one direction and with the opposite rack during the next stroke in the same direction, substantially as shown and described.

19. The combination with the loom-lay, shuttles, rack-bar, and cranks for reciprocating the lay, of a shuttle-motion, comprising a shaft for actuating the rack-bar, a pinion on said shaft, two vertically-reciprocating racks actuating the pinion, and provided with catches,a reciprocating slide, a connection between the slide and one of the cranks, a pawl pivoted on the slide, having two'projections adapted to engage catches on the racks, and projections at the extremities of the racks for engaging the pawl to shift the latter from engagement with one rack to engagement with the other substantially as shown and described.

20. In a shuttle-actuating device, the combination with the lay, cranks, shuttles, and rack-bar, of a shaft connected to reciprocate the rack-bar, a pinion on the shaft, sliding racks to rotate the shaft through its pinion, a slide, means to reciprocate the slide from the crank, a pawl pivoted on the slide and adapted to be rocked into engagement with one or the other of the racks, means for automatically shifting the pawl and a friction element engaging the pawl to retainit in whatever position to which it has been shifted.

21. The combination in a shuttle-actuating device with shuttles and rack-bar, ofa shaft to reciprocate the rack-bar, sliding members acting to rotate the shaft in opposite directions, a slide reciprocated from the lay-drivingmechanism of the loom, a pawl on the slide adapted to be rocked to engage the sliding members and formed with a projection, a plunger sliding in a bearing on the slide and a spring to force the plunger into frictional engagement with the projection on the pawl substantially as shown and described.

22. The combination with a frame a adapted to be attached to a loom, of a slide 5 adapted to reciprocate in a groove in the frame, sliding members it and 2' fitting slots in the frame, means for retaining the members in their slots, a shaft n extending through a bearing in the frame, connections on said shaft to actuate the shuttles of the loom, a gear on the shaft engaged by the sliding members, a pawl on the slide for alternately engaging the sliding members, devices for shifting the pawl and means for reciprocating the slide from the driving mechanism of the loom.

In testimony whereof we afl'ix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MERRILL O. STEERE SIMON W. WARDWELL.

Witnesses:

THOMAS M. CHILDs, CHARLES A. EDDY. 

